venomous

adjective

ven·​om·​ous ˈve-nə-məs 

1

: producing venom in a specialized gland and capable of inflicting injury or death

venomous snakes

2

: full of venom: such as

a

: poisonous, envenomed

b

: noxious, pernicious

… expose a venomous dope ring …

—Don Porter

c

: spiteful, malevolent

venomous criticism

venomously adverb

venomousness noun

Synonyms of venomous

• poisonous
• poisoned
• poison

Examples of venomous in a Sentence

The cobra is a venomous snake.

a venomous attack on his character

Recent Examples on the Web

Cottonmouths — semiaquatic snakes also known as water moccasins — are in the top three most commonly encountered venomous snakes in Arkansas, Davis said. — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026

Maumelle Animal Services Officers Maumelle Animal Services arrived to retrieve the venomous snake, placing it into a tote bag and relocating it to a nearby river. — Sophie Ziedalski, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026

Cottonmouths are the second-most venomous snakes found in Arkansas. — CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

Here’s a list of the 10 most venomous snakes that exist in the world today. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English venimous, borrowed from Anglo-French venimus, venimous, from venim venom entry 1 + -us, -ous -ous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

venomous

adjective

ven·​om·​ous ˈven-ə-məs 

: having or producing venom

venomous snakes

venomously adverb

Medical Definition

venomous

adjective

ven·​om·​ous ˈven-ə-məs 

1

: poisonous

2

: producing venom in a specialized gland and capable of inflicting injury or death

the vipers, pit vipers, and coral snakes are venomous